Grain dumping and elevating device



(No Model.) 4 Shegts-Sheet 1.

. -E FQPISHER. GRAIN DUMPING AND ELEVATING DEVICE. No. 244,874. Patented July 26,1881.

ATTORNEY U. will Mum-w. Wm n. c

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

, E. P. FISHER. V S GRA IN DUMPING AND ELEVATING DEVICE.

P10144374. Patented July 26,1881

- TYWENTQR S I @W 89mm dam W00;

WITNESSES ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 3,

. E. F. FISHER.

GRAIN DUMPING AND ELEVATING DEVICE.

(No Model.)

No, 244,874, Patented July 26,1881.

' TNVENTOR ITNESSES a. min; WWI me.

(No Model I r 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. i

- E. F; FISHER. a GRAIN DUMPING}AND'EEEVATING'DEVIGE. No. 244 7 I v Patented July 26,1881.

linmuu WITNESSES v INVENTUR ATTORNEY N. PUERS HwwLium m mr. Washington 0, c.

'UN'I'T'ED" STATES PAT NT Felon.

FDWAYRDF. FISHER, F s'rrtxwn, ILLINOIS.

GRAINDUMPING ANDQELEYVATING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,874, dated July 26, 1881.

' I Application filed March 26, ss (No model.)

To-all whom it may concern: A

Beitknown'that I, EDWARD F. Frsnnn, of Strawn, inJthe county of Livingston and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in GrainDumping and Ele vating Devices and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,-clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit pertains'to make and use it,refere'noe being hadto the accompanying drawings, which form part of this Specification. My invention relates to an improvement in grain dumping and elevating devices, the object of the same being to provide means for (lumping the contents of a wagon into an elevating-box, and raising the same by means of the wagon-team at a'heightconsiderably above the level of the driveway, where the load is automatically discharged into cars or cribs, as desired. "Withthese ends in view my invention consists in certain details in construction and combinations of parts, as will be more fully explained, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis'a side view, showing the elevator-box raised sufficiently to allowa team to pass under the same onto the-platform. w Fig. 2 isaside view of the improved elevator with the dumping-frame in position for dumping the contents of a avagon into 'the elevator-box; r Fig. 3 is a'detached view, showingcertain parts used in tilting the wagon. Fig. 4 shows the means for automatically tilting and locking the elevator-box. Fig.

of the box.

incline a'is madein two sections'supported' 1 by blocks on their under surfaces which rest on T the ground or project from the side beams,

and form an easy incline for the; ascen t 'of the team with the loaded wagon. These sections box at any desired point.

are'adapted to be folded up out of the way to allow the elevator boxto descend and rest firmly on the ground. The platform Ais supported on the longitudinal beams B extending throughout the entire length of the machine,

I and by the transverse and diagonal beams b b situated immediately under the platform A and adapted to aiford additional security thereto.

T G are the vertical guide-posts or frame, secured to the longitudinal beams B, and are adapted to serveas' guides'for the elevator-box. The rear posts are heldin position by diagonal braces b while the front posts are secured near their top to thelongitudinal beams B by the diagonal braces b, said braces extending from near the top of the posts to the front end of the beams B. These posts 0 are connected togetheron top by the tie-braces b b the braces b formingthe bearing for the shaft D, on which the hoisting-ropes for elevating the box are wound. This shaft D is journaled at d on the braces or joists b and has a grooved pulley,

61, secured thereto at its central part, to which one end of the draft-ropeE is secured. Ratchet-teeth d areformed at one side of the periphcry. of the grooved wheel, with which the pawl d engages to stop the descent ofthe elevator- This pawl d is secured to thetop of the frame directly in front of thegrooved pulley, as shown in the drawings, and is weighted or spring-pressed at one end, while the opposite end engages with the ratchet-teeth on the grooved pulley d. A cord,

61 is attached to'the pawl and passes down through suitable blocks or pulleys, 01 to the platform A, where it is attached to a foot-piece,

E d, by which the pawl is disengaged from the ratchet-teeth and allows the elevator-box to descend as desired. The ends of the sh aftD project over the braces 12 and form the windingdrums d", on which the hoisting-ropes d are wound during the ascent of the elevator-box. The elevator-box F is surrounded by a rectangular frame, F, consisting of the side and end bars, f. These side-and end bars are joined at the corners of the box, the ends of the bars projecting out to form angles adapted to embracethe upright posts 0, and are'provided with rollers f' on their extreme ends, which hold the boxin the proper position and allow the same to slide between the upright posts with the least possible friction.

To the bottom of the side bars, f, are attached hanging arms f constructed of either metal or wood, as desired, and having rings or eyes at their lower ends, through which the pivotbolt f secured to the sides of the car, near the center of the bottom thereof, passes. The side bars, f, of the rectangular frame have metallic lifting rods or chains g secured on their upper surfaces, near the ends, which pass upward and are firmly attached to the outer ends of the lifting-bars g, to which the hoisting-ropes are attached near their center by any suitable means or, instead of connecting the hoisting ropes to thetop of the lifting-bars g, they may be attached directly to theliftingrods or chains g, which pass up through the lifting-bar and join its fellow on the opposite side, as shown in Fig. 9.

The elevator-box F is pivoted within the frame above described, the latter extending well up and around its sides, the said box havin g its two upper ends beveled off to allow the box to tilt a sufficient distance without strikin g the overhanging bars g, situated immediately above the top of the box. It also has a door, 9 situated on the side adjoining the platform, which opens outwardly and forms a chute into which the grain is dumped from the wagon on the platform. This door is provided with metallic end pieces, 9, bent as shown in the drawings, adapted to limit the outward swing of the gate by abutting against the side of the box, and also preventing the grain from falling off the gate at its ends. The box is also provided with another gate, H, at one or both ends of same, through which the grain passes to a chute or spout connected with a crib or car. This gate is hinged to the bottom of the car and adapted to swingoutwardly,its upperedge passing under the end piece, f, of the rectangular frame. This gate H is opened automatically by the lever H, pivoted to the end bar, f, .the said lever being provided with a catch, h, at its lower end, adapted to engage with the pin h, secured at the top of the swinging gate H, and after engagement therewith adapted to hold it in position by the springh secured to the short arm h of the lever H until relieved therefrom by the long arm h engaging with projections on the upright posts 0, thereby performing the double function of locking the closed gate and also maintaining the box F in a. level position until the desired height has been reached. A pin, k projects from the inner surface of the upright post 0 adjacent to the long arm of lever H, and is vertically adjustable in the series of holes in in the post 0. The function of this pin is to engage thelong arm of lever H when the box is sufficiently elevated and force the catch on the short arm. of the lever out of engagement with the pin on the end-gate, thereby unlocking the end-gate, tilting the box, and allowing the contents of the same to gravitate into the crib or car. A

vertically-adjnstable bar, K, is secured to the upright posts C, as shown, and is provided with a short lever, L, centrally pivoted thereto on top. This short lever is weighted at the outer end, and the opposite end, pointing toward the elevator-box, is rounded 011' and adapted to automatically bring the elevator-box F to a horizontal position and close the end-gate H as the box descends. The lever L is pivoted to the top'of the bar K at its center, and as the box F descends it operates to lift the depressed end of the box, and also the free or upper end of the gate, until the catch it on lever H engages with the pin h on the gate H, when the weighted end of the lever L causes it to tilt backward and allow the end bar,f, of the rectangular frame to pass unobstructed. Bar K is vertically adjustable on the posts by means of a series of holes in the posts, into which the pins Z are inserted, thereby allowing the bar K to be secured in a position below the box while same is discharging its load.

The end-gate H is provided with end pieces, h which fit in recesses in the sides of the box F. When the gate is thrown down the end pieces completely close up the space between the sides and end-gate of the box and prevent the grain from falling out. Pins or projectionsf are formed on the sides of the box opposite the end-gate, and are adapted to prevent the box from tilting in the wrong direction.

M is the dumping-frame, secured to the under side of the lifting-arms N. This frame rests in recesses formed in the floor of the platform, is flush with the upper surface thereof, and rests on the diagonal and transverse beams which support the platform. The liftingarms N, secured at one end to the frame M, pass backward and upward, and are pivotally secured at their opposite end to the upright posts 0. This frame M is elevated by means of ropes O secured to the lifting-arms near the center of the dumping-frame, said ropes passing upward and around pulleys secured on the ends of diagonal beam 1?, and down and around drums R on shaft R, secured below the floor in the longitudinal beam B. Beam P is secured to the longitudinal beam B, as shown, and passes upward at an angle, and is secured near its upper end to the diagonal beams b running at right angles thereto.

Near the outer end of the shaft R is secured the sprocket-wheel S, which is connected to the sprocket-wheel s, of smaller diameter than the wheel S, through the intervention of a suitable drive-chain.

To the outer end of shaft It ratchet-wheel s is secured, with which the spring-pressed pawl s engages and checks the descent of the dumping-frame. The outer end of the pawl s is attached to the connecting rod or rope s, which passes upward and is attached to the short end of lever T. This lever is pivoted to the diagonal beam P, immediately over wheel F journaled on axle 8, said wheel having a. smooth periphery. Hand-wheel U. is alsolattachedto this axle, by which the dumping-frame M is operated.

From the foregoingit will be seen that by depressing'athe-long armofthe lever T the pawl becomes disengaged from the ratchetwheel, and allows the frame to descend while the Ivelocity of the .descent is controlled by the scent of the elevator-box. This latter partis located at the juncture of the diagonal braces P and b. at ,one side of the machine, and consists oftwo pulleys, I mounted on-fixed centers in cross-pieces b, and a third pulley, W, mounted on the upper end ofvamovable upright, 10.

This upright is raised and lowered by the lever to, to which its lower end is 7. attached, said lever 10 being pivoted to the'diagonal brace, as shown. The draft-rope E is passed under movable pulley W and over fixed pulleys b b,

and by depressing the lever to the movable pulleyWis forced down between thepulleys b b, and effectually checks the downward progress of the elevator-box at any portion of its descent.

The operation of the device is as follows: The machine having been placed .beside a crib or car, the box is elevated sufiiciently for a team to pass beneath the same onto the platform, and is retained by the pawl and ratchet at the top of the frame. The rope E is removed from under pulley u and swung to one side, when the loaded wagon is drawn through the driveway under the elevator-box. When the forward wheels of the wagon stand between the long sides of the dumping-frame inclines a are thrown up and the elevator-box allowed to descend and rest on the ground. Then the hin ed ate 2 should be tilted backward, if necessary, an the end-board of the wagon removed. By means of the hand-wheel U and intermediate mechanism the dumpframe is lifted, and its sides engaging with opposite sides 0 f forward wheels of the wagon, the-forward end of the wagon is elevated sufficiently to empty the load into the elevator-box F. The pawl s and ratchet-wheel 8 provide means for retaining the wagon in an inclined position as long as desired, and by depressing the long arm of lever T the pawl becomes disengaged and the dump-frame allowed to descend, its descent, however, being governed by the lever T. The draft-rope is then passed under pulley n on the platform and through the pulleys b and W, and attached to'the end of wagon by the hook 10 The wagon is then drawn forward, which causes the box to ascend until the pin h in theupright post G depresses the lever H, and automatically tilts or partly revolves thebox, and opens the end-gate, there by permitting the contents of the box to fall into .thecrib or car. When the box is lowered it is brought to a horizontal position and automatically locked by abutting against the tilting-lever L on bar K.

A stop or button, 20?, may be adjustably secured to the draft-rope, and is designed to assist in stopping the box at the proper height by coming in contact with the pulley a on the floor of the machine.

:It is evident that many changes in the construction .of the parts above described could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and hence I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact construction shown and described, but consider myself "at liberty to make such changes and alterations as will come within the spirit and intent of my invention.

Having fullydescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, .with a platform and wagon-dumping framelocatedin recesses in the platform, of an elevator-box arranged to be lowered below the wagon-dumping frame, said elevator-box provided with one or more outwardly-swinging gates and devices for antomatically releasing said gates and discharging the contents ofthe elevator-box when it has reached a desired height, substantially as set forth. 7 i

2. The combination, with a platform and wagon-dumping frame, of an elevator-box ar ranged to be lowered below the wagon-dump ing frame, said elevator-box being constructed and arranged to be tilted and its contents automatically discharged when it has been raised to the desired height, substantially as set forth.

3. In a portable grain-elevator, an elevating box having one or more gravitating gates hinged toits bottom, andarranged to be opened automatically on arriving at a desired height, substantially as set forth.

4. In a portable grain-elevator, an elevatorbox surrounded by and pivoted in a frame at= tached to the hoisting-ropes of the wagondumping device, operated and controlled by the devices shown, substantially as set forth.

5. In a portable grain-elevator, the combination, with the elevator-box and lifting-rope, of the brake consisting of two fixed rope pul leys or rollers and an adjustable rope pulley or roller, said rope being passed between the fixed and adjustable pulleys or rollers, substantially as set forth.

6. In a combined wagon-dump and grain elevator, the combination, with a platform and a wagon dump adapted to raise the front of the wagon-body and dump the load, of an elevat ing box arranged to be lowered below the wagon-bod y, and devices for automatically dis charging the contents of the elevator-box, sub stantially as set forth.

7. In a combined wagon-dump and grain IIO elevator, the combination, with an elevatorbox, of a snpporting-frame having the hoisting-ropes attached thereto, said frame serving as a guide and having the elevator-box suspended therefrom on a transverse bar, whereby the elevator-box may be tilted without disturbing the position ofthe frame, substantially as set forth.

8. In a combined wagon-dump and grainelevator, the combination, with an elevatorbox having a hinged side or bottom, of a supporting-frame having the hoisting-ropes attached thereto, said frame serving as a guide and having the elevator-box suspended therefrom on a transverse bar, substantially as set forth.

9. In a combined wagon-dump and grainelevator, the combination, with an elevatorbox provided with a hinged side or bottom, and mechanism for automatically opening the side or bottom, of a supporting-t'rame having the hoisting-ropes attached thereto, said frame serving as a guide and having the elevatorbox suspended therefrom on a transverse bar,

substantially as set forth.

10. In a combined wagon-dump and grainelevator, the combination, with the wagon-supporting platform, of a d limping-frame located at one side of the elevator and over the wagonsupporting platform, said dumping-frame eonstrncted to rest flush with the top of the platform, and to be raised at one end to dmnp the Wagon and discharge its contents into the elevator-box, substantially as set forth.

11. In a combined wagon-dump and grainelevator, the combination, with a supportingframeand elevator-boxlocated within the frame and supported on a transverse bar connected with the frame, of a gate hinged to the bottom of the elevator box, said gate having side flanges attached thereto and provided with a catch-lever for automatically locking and unlocking the end gate, substantially as set forth.

12. In a combined \vagoirdump and elevator, the combination, with the elevator, of a dumping-frame pivoted atone end to the guideposts of the elevator-frame, and the opposite end of said dumping-frame constructed to fit in a recess in the Wagon-sup mrting platform, and suitable hoisting and braking mechanism for raising the free end of the dumping-frame and holding it in an elevated position, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination, with an elevator-box, F, provided with a hinged end-gate, H, of the vertically-adjustable beam K, having the lever L pivoted thereon, said lever being constructed and arranged to automatically close the endgate during the descent of the elevator-box, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination, with ratchet-wheel s and s 'iring-pawl s, of the lever T, friction- Wheel T, and connecting-rod a, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of March, 1881.

EDWVARD F. FISHER.

\Vitnesses CLARENCE 1t. VIRGIN, DARWIN A. FRALEY. 

